Away From Eden

Ticket to the Top

As expected in the next few days, those who received an invitation were all over the media. The entire investigation department were congratulating Carsen. Of course who won't be thrilled about being invited? For a Newman, for people at the bottom, being invited to the reunion is a much honor. It was like a dream come true. It is the ultimate pursuit of everyone that's below the hierarchy.

The entire police station was waiting if Carsen's invitation would make him officially included in the party games. That's all that they were after. All eyes were on that huge television screen, and when they heard Carsen's name as a participant in the game, the office was filled with cheering, they were celebrating for Carsen.

" Happy for you bro!" Robin bumped his fist with him.

Carsen just responds with a smile.

Later that day, the news about his invitation reached Harpie, his ex.

At the moment when their village in El Rotosi was having a celebration dinner, a luxurious car parked nearby. It was Harpie.

When her ex married the school owner, Barry of the lord's hierarchy, Harpie moved out of their village and lived in the area where the lord classes are residing.

Carsen wasn't expecting that she'd show up today.

He asked his neighbors if someone from them invited Harpie because he's sure his family had not.

" Hi," he awkwardly greeted her in which she flashed a hesitant smile in return.

Carsen lead her into a spot in the yard that's a bit far from the crowd.

" You like something to eat?" he asked.

Harpie shook her head, " no, I won't be long" she said.

" I just came here to congratulate you. I'm happy for...you,"

" Thanks," Carsen forced a smile.

The sense of discomfort, that feeling of being self-conscious cannot be denied that it was present in the atmosphere. It has been months since Harpie had married Barry Hansen. From then on, he never heard of her except what the media had shown about them. And now, that she's here again, with the Newmans, with him, it feels like she was a different person that even a single conversation with her doesn't feel like home.

A moment later, Harpie glances at her phone, then she hurriedly bid to leave.

" I'll go...do your best in the game," she muttered, avoiding his eyes.

That action of hers was kind of suspicious to Carsen. He hinted that something wrong is going on with her.

Or was it just my hint? Of course, that's the life she wanted. She wanted to be with the elite. He thinks.

Carsen shook her head. He dismissed what he thought.

He waved his hand in response to Harpie who had waved to him before she gets into that luxury car.

Perhaps this will be our last meeting. Carsen thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Jimmie Vaughn's residence was among those that were named " high-end homes." His house was one of those that the bottom desired to have. In a world that had almost reached extinction, residing in a modern castle-like house is a dream. Surely, inside was more than comfort, a thing that those at the bottom of the hierarchy have been chasing. Jimmie was on his couch sipping a glass of wine in front of a large pool when Barry arrived.

" Why are you here?" Jimmie asked without even throwing a glance at him. But Barry's face was serious. It was like he's up to an argument today.

" Carsen Adams. Why is he in the reunion?" Barry asked.

" He's not even a graduate of Stanford!" he blurted.

Jimmie gets up from his seat and turned to Barry with that dominating look on his face.

" But he goes to Stanford, right?" he replied.

" yeah, but he transferred..."

" the point is he attended your school!" Jimmie cuts him off.

Barry scoffed. He doesn't want Carsen to be one of the participants.

" You can't do anything about it. Some Castellans higher than me have already decided about him," Jimmie said.

" But why?" Barry exclaimed.

" They said he's deserving,"

Barry scowled, " deserving?"

Jimmie banged the glass of wine on the side table. He got a bit irritated with Barry's whining.

" Look, man!" he muttered with creased eyebrows.

" You see my hands are tied on this, as how tied was yours! In the end, it's still my decision to remind you. I officially own that school." Jimmie said looking straight into Barry's eyes. His tone of voice sounds like he doesn't want him to mess up with what has been decided.

Barry nodded.

" Okay," he replied.

Words hardly come out of his mouth.

What can he do? He can't object. If he won't go with the flow, Jimmie would make his bankruptcy public, and would publicly claim that it was him who actually owns the school now. And when that happens, he would go down to the Newmans or worst to the Flocks. He can't allow that. Stanford and its party games were his only ticket to remain in the second hierarchy.

Barry forced a smile, " okay, but can you tell me why they rated him as deserving?" he asked.

Jimmie patted his back and signaled a servant to serve wine to Barry.

" I understand the guy was your wife's ex," Jimmie said. Now, his tone was gentle.

" But the guy was born with an exemplary IQ. We need him to make the game entertaining. You need him to continually get sponsors," Jimmie explained.

" Besides, this perfect world of ours demands to be led by men of intelligence, right? " Jimmie added.

Barry sighed. He can't argue. Well, he hopes that Carsen would get defeated or would die in the game because he doesn't want him seeing ascend to the top of the hierarchy. He hopes that his IQ would do no favor to him, and he'll be like those players who suffered death and defeat, whose desire of getting rich, of becoming a Castellan had died with them, suffering an unjust death.

No way! Stanford can't be his tool! Barry thinks.

" Anyway," Jimmie interrupted his thoughts.

" Hey, why don't you enjoy a meal for now," Jimmie lead him out of the pool area. They headed to his courtyard where there were servants lining the corner, while in the center of a flowery garden was a long table filled with food.

Barry chuckled in awe.

Of course, all the stuff he could see, and so with the food are a little more lavished than what he has in his house. These are some kind of paradise exclusive only for the Castellans.

" Sit down, let's have breakfast," Jimmie gestured him to the seat.

Breakfast? Suddenly Barry's ears become observant of little words. What's more, if those who are at the bottom are here now, they would be more than impressed. He thinks.

He's at the lord level of this hierarchic system yet still he can't help but get awed by the extravagance of the Castellans.

" You don't like the foods?" Jimmie noticed his hesitant face.

Barry chuckled, " Oh..of course not! I like it!" he replied.

" We all should be grateful because you know...at least we're not like those scavengers that feed on trashes," Jimmie said. He is referring to the Newmans and Flocks.

" You know...our trashes," he added chuckling.